Chapter 75
"Al! Ray!"
I peered over the starboard rail at the sea. The two who had fallen into the water surfaced with their faces above the waves.
At this rate, they might drown. I looked around and saw a thin, ring-shaped board mounted along the rail. It was a life ring for rescuing anyone who fell overboard.
"Grab this!"
I picked up the life ring and threw it with all my strength. It landed near Al and Ray, and the two swam over to it.
Though they still needed help, I breathed a sigh of relief knowing they were not in immediate danger.
"Mary! You damn brat!"
Captain Maurice lunged at Mary-san with his sword, his face bright red with anger. Mary-san, meanwhile, wore an exasperated expression as she dodged his attack.
"Calm down, old man. If you thrash around that much, you'll hurt your back again."
"Shut up, you stupid girl!"
Mary-san evaded Captain Maurice's furious assault with nimble footwork. His broad swing cut through empty air, and his sword sank deep into the deck. Captain Maurice tried to pull it free, but it would not come out at once. Mary-san seized the opening, stepped on the sword to pin it down, and pointed her own sword at Captain Maurice's neck.
"You unfilial wretch!"
"Don't thrash around, old man. Your men will die."
As Captain Maurice growled, Mary-san indicated the deck with her slender chin. The captured crew of the Lazybones stood in the direction she pointed.
Seeing his surrendered men, Captain Maurice growled. Protecting his subordinates was a captain's duty. He could no longer resist.
The only ones who had yet to surrender were the four around me—Borel, Gatt, Zeze, and Jini. The outcome was already clear.
"Lady Romelia. You and your people too. If you resist any further, people will die. Are you willing to accept that?"
Mary-san looked at me, the blade at Captain Maurice's neck flashing.
I couldn't imagine her actually cutting down her own father, but I couldn't be certain she wouldn't.
"If we surrender, can you swear that you won't kill the prisoners?"
"Yes, I swear. They're fellow islanders, so I won't kill them. You're an important hostage as well. Behave yourself, and your safety is guaranteed."
Mary-san nodded in response to my question.
"Understood. We surrender."
I nodded and looked at Borel and the others.
"Borel, Gatt, Zeze, Jini. Lower your weapons."
"But, Romelia-sama!"
Borel did not lower his weapon. He made it clear that he intended to keep fighting to protect me.
"If we resist, Captain Maurice may be harmed."
I considered how this might play out. I did not know which way the situation would turn, but as long as Captain Maurice remained alive, our relationship with Merka Island could be barely preserved. If he died, however, everything would collapse.
"I'm glad you're reasonable."
Mary-san nodded and raised her left hand. A masked sailor approached us, took away our weapons, and tied Borel and the others up with ropes.
"Dad, sorry, but you're a hostage too."
"Binding your own father? You unfilial wretch!"
"I've already heard that one."
Mary-san laughed and had Captain Maurice restrained.
"All right, carry the hostages to our ship. Leave ten sailors behind as well. They need to tell Merka Island and Lionel Kingdom that we've taken hostages."
Mary-san sorted the people who would be taken hostage from those who would be left behind.
"Paula-san, you stay behind."
I looked at Paula-san, who stood beside me. If a woman were taken prisoner, she might be assaulted. She wasn't a soldier, so there was no reason for her to become a hostage with me.
"No, I'm coming with you. I won't leave your side."
Paula-san grabbed my hand. Her hand was trembling, but determination shone in her eyes.
"...Understood. It may be dangerous. Follow my instructions."
I agreed reluctantly.
"Come this way, young lady."
Mary-san beckoned me over. When I looked toward the port side of the deck, I saw that a plank had been laid between the adjacent Lazybones and Silverwing.
With no choice, Paula-san, Zeze, Jini, Borel, Gatt, and I boarded Silverwing. Captain Maurice and roughly twenty sailors were brought aboard as prisoners as well.
"All right, put Dad and the others in the hold."
Mary-san pointed with her chin toward the middle of the deck. A gridded hatch was set into the deck, and when a masked sailor opened it, a staircase extended downward. It presumably led to the hold. Captain Maurice and the bound sailors, along with Borel and the other three, were led below.
I looked at the masked sailor gripping Borel's arm. A red cloth was wrapped around the sailor's right arm.
"Now, as for what to do with you..."
Mary-san turned her gaze toward me, and Paula-san stepped in front of me as if to shield me.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to eat you. I've got a cabin ready, though it's a bit cramped."
Mary-san glanced at the cabin in the stern, then looked at Paula-san, who was standing in front of me.
"In exchange, you'll be responsible for looking after the young lady. We don't know the first thing about caring for a noble."
Having said that, Mary-san drew herself up and announced our departure. The sailors rushed back and forth between the ships, not even taking time to remove their masks. Silverwing slowly began to move, pulling away from the Lazybones.
"Captain Rome!"
I heard a voice from far below. When I looked down at the sea, Al and Ray were clinging to the life ring and desperately swimming toward Silverwing.
"I'm coming to rescue you!"
"You bastards! Let Romelia-sama go!"
Al and Ray swam desperately after the ship, trying to catch up.
"Good grief, they've got some serious grit."
Seeing Al and Ray swimming with all their might, Mary-san looked exasperated.
"Al! Ray! Go back to Lionel Kingdom! Then follow Verri-sensei's instructions!"
I ordered them, but they ignored me and continued swimming toward Silverwing. There was no way they could match the ship's speed, and the distance between us widened mercilessly.
"Captain Rome!"
"Romelia-sama!"
The voices of Al and Ray echoed across the open sea.